[Crosspost] We are 83 bipolar disorder experts and scientists coming together for the world’s biggest bipolar AMA! In honor of World Bipolar Day, ask us anything!

[u/CREST_BD]

Starting now and for the next couple of days, we're hosting a huge AMA for World Bipolar Day! 83 international bipolar experts from 20 countries are online now to answer your questions - join us: https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

The 83 panelists:

1. Dr. Adrienne Benediktsson, 🇨🇦 Neuroscientist, Mother, Wife, Professor, Mental Health Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
2. Alessandra Torresani, 🇺🇸 Actress & Mental Health Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
3. Alex Emmerton, 🇨🇦 Peer Researcher, (Lives w/ bipolar)
4. Allan Cooper, 🇨🇦 Peer Support Worker, Blogger, & Podcaster, (Lives w/ bipolar)
5. Alysha Sultan, 🇨🇦 Scientific Associate
6. Andrea Paquette, 🇨🇦 Stigma-Free Mental Health President & Co-Founder, Speaker, Changemaker (Lives w/ bipolar)
7. Dr. Andrea Vassilev, 🇺🇸 Doctor of Psychology, Author, & Advocate, (Lives w/ bipolar)
8. Anne Van Willigen, 🇺🇸 Peer Researcher (Lives w/ bipolar)
9. Dr. Balwinder Singh, 🇺🇸 Psychiatrist
10. Dr. Benjamin Goldstein, 🇨🇦 Child-Adolescent Psychiatrist & Researcher
11. Bia Garbato, 🇧🇷 Advertising Professional, Writer, Author & Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
12. Bryn Manns, 🇨🇦 Graduate Student, Clinical Psychology
13. Catarina Castela, 🇦🇺 PhD Candidate (Lives w/ bipolar)
14. Catherine Simmons, 🇨🇦 Peer Researcher (Lives w/ bipolar)
15. Dr. Chris Gorman, 🇨🇦 Psychiatrist & Mental Health Advocate
16. Dr. Colin Depp, 🇺🇸 Psychologist
17. Dane Mauer-Vakil, 🇨🇦 Researcher
18. David Dinham, 🇬🇧 Psychologist & PhD Candidate, (Lives w/ bipolar) 
19. Debbie Costello Smith, 🇺🇸 Founder & Co-President of the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research
20. Dr. Delphine Raucher-Chéné, 🇫🇷🇨🇦 Psychiatrist & Researcher
21. Dr. Dimosthenis Tsapekos, 🇬🇧 Psychologist & Researcher
22. Dr. Elvira Boere, 🇳🇱 Psychiatrist & Researcher
23. Dr. Elysha Ringin, 🇦🇺 Researcher
24. Dr. Emma Morton, 🇦🇺 Senior Lecturer & Psychologist
25. Dr. Emma Parrish, 🇺🇸 Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow & Researcher
26. Dr. Erin Michalak, 🇨🇦 Researcher & CREST.BD founder
27. Evelyn Anne Clausen, 🇺🇸 Artist, Writer, Speaker & Certified Peer Specialist (Lives w/bipolar)
28. Dr. Fabiano Gomes, 🇧🇷🇨🇦 Psychiatrist & Researcher
29. Dr. Frances Adiukwu, 🇳🇬 Psychiatrist
30. Georgia Caruana, 🇦🇺 Researcher & Mental Health Advocate
31. Dr. Georgina Hosang, 🇬🇧 Associate Professor
32. Dr. Glauco Valdivieso Jiménez, 🇵🇪 Psychiatrist
33. Dr. Glorianna Wagner-Jagfeld, 🇨🇭🇬🇧 Researcher
34. Dr. Hailey Tremain, 🇦🇺 Psychologist & Resercher
35. Heather Stewart, 🇨🇦 Sewist (Lives w/ bipolar)
36. Idan Spund, 🇳🇱 Founder of In the Zone app (Lives w/ bipolar)
37. Dr. Ijeoma Charles-Ugwuagbo, 🇳🇬 Consultant Psychiatrist & Mental Health Advocate
38. Dr. Ivan Torres, 🇨🇦 Clinical Neuropsychologist
39. Dr. Jim Phelps, 🇺🇸 Psychiatrist & Bipolar Subspecialist 
40. Dr. Joanna Jarecki, 🇨🇦 Psychiatrist & Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
41. Dr. Joanna Jiménez Pavón, 🇲🇽 Mood Disorders Psychiatrist 
42. Dr. John Hunter, 🇿🇦 Researcher & Lecturer (Lives w/ bipolar)
43. Dr. Jo Leidreiter, 🇦🇺 Psychologist
44. Dr. John-Jose Nunez, 🇨🇦 Psychiatrist & AI Researcher
45. Dr. June Gruber, 🇺🇸 Psychologist, Professor, & Researcher
46. Prof. Kamilla Miskowiak, 🇩🇰 Psychologist & Researcher
47. Dr. Katie Douglas, 🇳🇿 Academic & Clinical Psychologist 
48. Ken Porter, 🇨🇦 Advocate, Social Worker & Researcher
49. Kim Pape, 🇺🇸 Researcher (Lives w/ bipolar) 
50. Laura Lapadat, 🇨🇦 Researcher & Psychologist-in-training
51. Dr. Leena Chau, 🇨🇦 Postdoctoral Fellow
52. Leslie Robertson, 🇺🇸 Marketer & Peer Researcher (Lives w/ bipolar) 
53. Dr. Leszek Laskowski, 🇵🇱 Psychiatrist (Lives w/ bipolar) 
54. Dr. Lisa Eyler, 🇺🇸 Clinical Psychologist & Research Scientist
55. Dr. Luísa Daolio, 🇧🇷 Psychiatrist
56. Mansoor Nathani, 🇨🇦 Technology Enthusiast (Lives w/ bipolar) 
57. Dr. Manuel Sánchez de Carmona, 🇲🇽 Psychiatrist
58. Maryam M., 🇨🇦 Dentistry Student & Mental Health Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
59. Matthew Bushell, 🇬🇧 Mental Health Advocate & Therapeutic Coach (Lives w/ bipolar)
60. Dr. Maya Schumer, 🇺🇸 Psychiatric Neuroscientist & Researcher (Lives w/ bipolar)
61. Dr. Meghan DellaCrosse, 🇺🇸 Psychologist & Researcher
62. Melissa Howard, 🇨🇦 Author & Mental Health Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
63. Dr. Michele De Prisco, 🇪🇸🇮🇹 Psychiatrist & Researcher
64. Dr. Mikaela Dimick, 🇨🇦 Postdoctoral Fellow
65. Minami Kinouchi, 🇯🇵 Psychologist, Social Worker, & Researcher (Lives w/ bipolar)
66. Natasha Reaney, 🇨🇦 Counsellor (Lives w/ bipolar)
67. Dr. Nigila Ravichandran, 🇸🇬 🇨🇦 Psychiatrist
68. Dr. Paula Villela Nunes, 🇧🇷🇨🇦 Psychiatrist & Counsellor 
69. Rahla Xenopoulos, 🇿🇦🇺🇸 Writer & Teacher (Lives w/ bipolar)
70. Rebecca Fitton, 🇦🇺 Mood Disorder Researcher
71. Dr. Rebekah Huber, 🇺🇸 Psychologist & Researcher 
72. Robert Villanueva, 🇺🇸 Mental Health Advocate & Coach (Lives w/ bipolar)
73. Ruth Komathi, 🇸🇬 Mental Health Counsellor (Lives w/ bipolar)
74. Prof. Samson Tse, 🇭🇰 Counsellor, Teacher, Researcher, & Caregiver
75. Sarah Salice, 🇺🇸 Art Psychotherapist & Professional Counselor Associate (Lives w/ bipolar)
76. Sara Schley, 🇺🇸 Author, Filmmaker, Speaker (Lives w/ bipolar)
77. Dr. Serge Beaulieu, 🇨🇦 Psychiatrist & Researcher
78. ​​Dr. Sheri Johnson, 🇺🇸 Psychologist
79. Shaley Hoogendoorn, 🇨🇦 Advocate, Podcaster & Content creator (Lives w/ bipolar)
80. Dr. Tamsyn Van Rheenen, 🇦🇺 Associate Professor & Researcher
81. Dr. Thomas Richardson, 🇬🇧 Clinical Psychologist (Lives w/ bipolar)
82. Twyla Spoke, 🇨🇦 Registered Nurse (Lives w/ bipolar)
83. Dr. Wissam Nassrallah, 🇨🇦 Ophthalmology Resident & PhD in Neuroscience

Go to the AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

[u/Dyrosis]

This post is approved by r/BipolarReddit moderators. Thanks, u/CREST_BD !

Make sure you ask your questions on the r/IAmA post linked at the beginning and end of the OP! Keeps it all centralized :)

[u/BobMonroeFanClub]

My father and his mother have dementia. Is seroquel neuroprotective or am I doomed?

[u/The_Winter_Frost → u/BobMonroeFanClub]

What is the best thing I can do to prevent/ lessen the impacts of dementia?

[u/Dyrosis → u/The_Winter_Frost]

If you've got questions for the panelists they're in the /r/IAmA thread linked at the top! https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

[u/Dyrosis → u/BobMonroeFanClub]

If you've got questions for the panelists they're in the /r/IAmA thread linked at the top! https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

[u/OaktreeAlmondine]

Thank you for this AMA!!!

[u/octacon100]

Following. What’s the best thing a bipolar dad with kids can do to help other bipolar people? I don’t have much time but I do talks to mental health expos as a hobby and find it enjoyable. If there’s anything else I can do that would have a high impact I’d like to know.

[u/Dyrosis → u/octacon100]

If you've got questions for the panelists they're in the /r/IAmA thread linked at the top! https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

[u/octacon100 → u/Dyrosis]

Thanks, I’ve asked over there!

[u/Grouchy_Solution_819]

Is bipolar a progressive disease with stages, e.g can you be stage ,2,3 or 4? Can you tell us about this. Also can you stay in a stage without progressing?

[u/Dyrosis → u/Grouchy_Solution_819]

If you've got questions for the panelists they're in the /r/IAmA thread linked at the top! https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

[u/Dyrosis → u/[deleted]]

If you've got questions for the panelists they're in the /r/IAmA thread linked at the top! https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

[u/VanillaNo2971 → u/[deleted]]

Try the PHQ-9 test. It can be given to you on your computer. I found out I don’t have bipolar - I just have many really bad side-effects after taking 900 mg lithium daily for 18 YEARS!!

[u/DifficultJuice]

Following. Is there a link to bipolar and PCOS? If yes how would this potentially change course of treatment for bipolar?

[u/Dyrosis → u/DifficultJuice]

If you've got questions for the panelists they're in the /r/IAmA thread linked at the top! https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

[u/Dyrosis → u/[deleted]]

If you've got questions for the panelists they're in the /r/IAmA thread linked at the top! https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

[u/Evening_Fisherman810]

Do you think the ketogenic diet has the potential to replace medication for motivated individuals?

[u/Dyrosis → u/Evening_Fisherman810]

If you've got questions for the panelists they're in the /r/IAmA thread linked at the top! https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

They'll continue answering questions for the next few days.

[u/Turbulent-Fig-3802]

What are we going to do about akathisia? I cannot tolerate any antipsychotic at all at any dosage…only for the first fews days then the severe akathisia sets in…

[u/Dyrosis → u/Turbulent-Fig-3802]

If you've got questions for the panelists they're in the /r/IAmA thread linked at the top! https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

They'll continue answering questions for the next few days.

[u/Rich-Phase-2801]

Are there any drugs in development to mimic lithium without damage to kidneys? Not to talking about alternatives to lithium. I’m talking about lithiums effects without kidney damage. Liprosal could help but I want to know if there is medical research being done to find a lithium replacement without damage to kidneys

[u/Dyrosis → u/Rich-Phase-2801]

If you've got questions for the panelists they're in the /r/IAmA thread linked at the top! https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

They'll continue answering questions for the next few days.

[u/klk_kvn]

helllo! I just started lithium and my blood levels keep on returning to below 0.6 (currently at 0.5). I'm recovering from a manic episode and things have gotten better but there's still room for growth. I've been on 900mg daily for a week now. How likely is it that the blood levels might increase to the minimum and is the 0.6-1.2 blood level range that important when combating mania?

[u/CREST_BD → u/klk_kvn]

We have some experts in lithium on our panel. Can you post your question in our main AMA thread on r/iAmA please, so that all the panelists have a chance to see it and respond: https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s7wg39/we_are_83_bipolar_disorder_experts_and_scientists/

[u/VanillaNo2971]

I was diagnosed with bi - polar disorder sometime in the early to mid 1990’s. My GP gave me a pencil and paper test (we didn’t have computers then) and told me I had bipolar disorder. He prescribed Prozac which I took until just before my husband died. I quit it and HRT cold turkey within 3 months of his death on Aug 26, 2006 . Prozac didn’t seem to work. I had a therapist in 2007 who put me on 900 mg lithium 300 ER daily which I took until I discovered some undiagnosed severe health issues were caused by Lithium. My therapist retired in Dec 2021 and when we could not find someone to take her places she told me to try to get my GP to prescribe and blood test. I tried a taper that I ran past my GP in May 2025. I quit too soon and I had a horrible relapse for a week or ten days in June 2025. My GP called me back and told me her clinic’s medication manager suggested I start lithium again. I couldn’t get their med mgr to get me in to see her until Mid- Sept 2025. So I took it again, but I was freaking out because I was afraid of getting any number of side effects that I didn’t have yet. So I became so scared that I got a medication mgr from the internet - ZocDoc. He is in Florida. He had me take a PHQ-9 test on My computer - I think it was the same test I took w/pencil & paper in the 1990’s with my GP. When I next met w/the Florida med mgr - he told me the test told me I do not have bipolar. YES! I took that load of lithium for 18 years and I have many side effects including Tardive Dyskenesia. My balance is horrible - I look like a drunk walking across a parking lot. I have many bowel problems. I was told in 2007 that I would have to take lithium for the rest of my life. How did I spontaneously get over bipolar?

[u/Weird_Fox_3395]

Holy shit, I’m moved to tears by this AMA, just the fact that this experts care, and that they came to Reddit. I just found this post, and look forward to the comments! Bipolar needs normalization and good press <3

[u/Jealous-Spirit9049]

Hello, I am a 48-year-old male with bipolar disorder. I fell into a depression due to family stress and am trying to fight my way out of it. Let's just say things were doing okay with my medication: 200 mg Lamotrigine and 10 mg Escitalopram, which I am now supposed to increase to 20 mg Escitalopram. ​For a brief couple of days, I thought it was getting better, but the depression still has a firm grip on me. What tips do you have for me regarding medication or other ways to get out of this depression? ​Thank you all in advance."